Clipping-machine



{No Model.) I 3 ShetsSheet 1. G. H. GOATBS.

GLIPPING MACHINE. No. 550,593. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. H. GOATE'S. OLIPPING MACHINE.

No. 550,593. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

AN DREW 5 GRAHAM.PNOTO-UTHQWASHINUYOND C,

' (No Model. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.,

G H. OOATES. OLIPPING MACHINE.

No. 550,593. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

AN DEM BGRAHAM. PHWOUTHQWASHI NGYON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

GEORGE H. OOATES, OF VVOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLlPPlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,593, dated December 3, 1895.

Application filed April 18, 1890. Serial No. 348,586. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE I-I. COATES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clipping Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, representing such portions of a clipping-machine as embody my invention, and in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the clipping-machine mounted upon a supporting-stand. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the cutting-plates, with the shank or handle shown. in sectional view, in order to disclose the connected actuating parts by which a reciprocating motion is imparted to the upper or movable plate. Fig. 3 is a side view of the cutting-plates. Fig. 4 illustrates the connection between the supporting-stand and the sweep or vibrating rod. Fig. 5 is a view representing the fork which supports the beveled pinions by which a rotary motion is imparted to the flexible shaft. Fig. 6 is a central sectional view on line X, Fig. 2, showing a sectional view of the cutting-plates and the shell or case forming the head. Fig. 7 is a central sectional view of the nut and bolt by which the pressure of the upper cutting-plate is regulated. Fig. 8 is a detached View of the elastic washer K Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the cutting-plates on line X X, Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a view of the under side of the pressure-plate. Fig. 11 is a crosssectional view of the pressure-plate on line Y Y, Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a central longitudinal view of one of the blocks in which the balls are held between the pressure-plate and the upper cutting-plate, and Fig. 13 is an end view of the block in which the balls are held.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

My invention relates to that class of clipping-machines in which a rotary motion is converted into a reciprocating motion of the movable cutting-plate and which are known as rotary or power. clipping-machines, such as are employed in the operation of horse-clipping andsheep-shearing.

In machines of this class the rotary motion is imparted to the reciprocating cutting-plate through the medium of a flexible shaft, which allows the clipping-machine to be moved over the surface of the animal to be clipped.

In the accompanying drawings, A denotes a stand which supports a short shaft A, carrying a balance-wheel A and usually provided with a crank-handle A by'which the shaft A is rotated.

Pivoted upon the supporting-stand A is a vibrating rod or sweep B, forked at its upper end and having a swinging motion about an axis concentric with the axis of the shaft A. The forked end of the sweep B carries .a short shaft B, having a pulley B which is driven through a belt connection from the balancewheel A Pivoted upon the shaft B is a fork C, in which is journaled the spindle carrying a beveled pinion D in mesh with a similar beveled pinion D upon the shaft D.

The parts above described are common in machines of this class and form no part of my invention, except as it relates to the con nection between the supporting-stand and the sweep B.

The rotary motion of the spindle D is communicated through a flexible shaft D of any of the known forms of construction, to a spindle E, journaled in the handle E and provided with a flange E inclosed in a chamber E in the handle E, and between the surface of the flange E and the wall of the chamber E, I place a series of balls E by which the friction caused by the longitudinal pull upon the spindle E is overcome.

The end of the spindle E is bifurcated, forming prongs E E to receive the tenon F of the spindle F, which is j ournaled in the head G of the clipping mechanism proper. The head G is provided with a tapering shank G fitting a tapering socket in the handle E, bringing the tenon F of the spindle F between the prongs of the spindle E. The opposite end of the spindle F is provided with a disk F carrying a crank-pin F entering the sliding plate F which has a sliding motion in the slot F within the sliding block H. The sliding block H is attached to the rod 11, which has a sliding motion in the head G, the block I-I being actuated by the crankpin F The flexible shaft not only communicates ing plate F rotary motion to the spindle E, but it also at times exerts a pulling strain upon the spindle E, caused by the bending of the flexible shaft, and if the spindle E and spindle F were made in one piece this pulling strain exerted by the flexible shaft D would be received by the disk F and the surfaces of the disk and head G which are in contact would be subject to continual wear, and as the parts become worn away the spindle F would move longitudinally under the pulling strain of the flexible shaft D thereby tending to withdraw the crank-pin F from the slot F in the slid- In order to obviate the liability of wear upon the disk F I make the spindles E and F separate, but connected by means of the prongs E upon the end of the spindle E and the tenon F upon the end of the spindle F, so that the rotation of the spindle E will be imparted to the spindle F, and the longitudinal strain exerted upon the spindle E by the pulling action of the flexible shaft 1) will be entirely removed from the spindle F.

Projecting from the sliding block H is an arm 11 which extends over and enters a mortise in the top or movable cutting-plate 11*, as at H Fig. 6, thereby imparting a reciprocating motion to the upper cutting-plate. The head Gr consists of a shell or case forming a housing for the sliding block II and the crank F and the lower cutting-plate I is held against the under side of the head G by means of a bolt I and thumb-nut I al1owing the lower cutting-plate to be detached from the head by loosening the bolt I. The space within the shell forming the head G is inclosed by the thin plate J which is provided with a lug J, having a hole for the bolt I, by which it is retained in position.

The upper and lower cutting-plates are held closely .in contact by the pressure-plate K and the tightening-bolt K and nut K The plate K is provided with a circular and tapering recess to receive the lower end of the sleeve K which has a corresponding taper. The bolt K passes through the lower and upper cutting-plates and through the pressure-plate K and sleeve K and receives a nut K The nut K has a downwardly-projecting flange K, inclosin g an elastic washer K which is attached to the upper end of the sleeve K and has two opposite sides turned upwardly, as represented in Fig. 8 at K K, the upturned portion of its edge resting against the under surface of the nut K As the nut is screwed upon the end of the bolt K, the tapered end of the sleeve K is pressed into the tapered recess in the plate K and the upturned edges of the elastic washer are pressed slightly downward, causing'the tension of the elastic washer to be exerted against the nut K and received by the screwthreads upon the bolt K, thereby preventing the jar of the machine from loosening the nut K In order to connect the nut K and sleeve K I prefer to turn the edge of the projecting flange K under the edge of the elastic washer K as represented in Fig. 7, where K denotes the turned edge of the flange K of the nut K By the above-described construction I secure in a single device the yielding property of an elastic washer and the frictional resistance of the tapered sleeve entering a tapered recess in the pressure-plate, and I unite the several elements in a single structure, so as to form but one piece in the machine, and I further secure the greatest resistance with the least amount of pressure upon the pressureplate and upon the threads of the screwthreaded bolt K. By tapering the end of the sleeve K and pressing it into a corresponding tapered recess I increase the frictional resistance between thefsleeve and the pressureplate, which causes the sleeve to be held from rotation with a small downward pressure.

The elastic washer is equally held from rotation by means of its attachment to the upper end of the sleeve, and the upturned edges K of the elastic washer are made to bear against the under side of the nut K at considerable radial distance from the axis of the nut, so that the frictional resistance between the under side of the nut and the upturned edges of the elastic washer is suflicient to hold the nut from rotation, and the sleeve,washer, and nut are all connected, so as. to form a single piece, by means of the attachment of the washer to the sleeve and the connection of the washer and nut by means of the inturned edge of the flange K while the flange K incloses the chamber to receive the elastic Washer and hides it from view, adding to the appearance of the machine. The flange K is of the same diameter as the outer diameter of the nut K so as to form an inclosed chamber capable of receiving an elastic washer nearly as large in diameter as the nut K so as to secure the greatest possible radial distance between the axis of the nut and the point of frictional resistance between the nut and the washer, and at the same time I bring the periphery of the flange K and nut K sufficiently above the surface of the pressureplate by interposing the tapering sleeve K between the elastic washer and the pressureplate K-that is, instead of using a nut with a projecting hub on the under side in order to raise the nut above the pressure-plate and placing an elastic washer between the hub of the nut and the pressure-plate, as heretofore done,I separate the nut proper and its hub and insert the elastic washer between the nut and hub, so as to in crease the frictional resistance to the rotation of the nut by increasing the radial distance from the axis of the nut at which the resistance is applied. When the elastic washer is inserted between the pressure-plate and the hub of the tightening-nut, the frictional resistance between the washer and the hub of the nut is necessarily received by a surface-of small diameter, and when only a slight pressure is needed upon the pressureplate the tension of the elastic washer exerted upon the screw-threads of the tightening-bolt and nut will not be sufficient to secure the nut against its becoming loosened.

The flexible shaft represented in the drawings consists of a chain composed of a series of links and is similar in its construction to the flexible shafts in use composed of a chain. The links of the chain connect the spindle D with the spindle E; but in order to allow an expansion of the chain as the shaft is curved I interpose between the links the device shown in Fig. 2, and which consists of a cage L, rigidly attached to the section of chain-link L, connected with the spindle E, and within the cage L is placed the plate L rigidly connected to the link U, the rotation of the plate L causing the rotation of the cage L and attached spindle E.

Between the plate L and the wall L of the cage L is placed a spiral spring L and as the chain is stretched the plate L will slide within the cage L, compressing the spiral spring L the tension of the spring returning the plate L to its normal position as the strain is removed from the chain. The above-described device allows the length of the chain to be varied as the flexible shaft is bent.

As is usual, the chain is inclosed within a coiled wire M, forming a continuous tube, which prevents the links of the chain from kinking and permits the shaft to be readily handled.

The upper end of the vertical supportingstand carries a post N, which is bifurcated at its upper end, forming the pron s N N,

, which are provided with disks N N preferably integral with the prongs N N, between which is a disk 0, pivoted upon the shaft A, which is journaled in the prongs N N. Upon one side of the disk 0 is an eye or sleeve P, through which the vibrating rod B passes, and is fixed in its position by the set-screw P. The disk 0 is thus held from binding the shaft A by any twisting strain by means of the disks N N which are formed integrally with the prongs N N, and rod B can be raised or lowered in the eye or sleeve P and held in any desired position within the sleeve by means of the set-screw P.

The pressure-plate K is provided upon its lower side with the chambers R B, Fig. 9, to receive the blocks R R, which are connected with the pressure-plate K by means of the pins R R upon which the blocks R B have a slight rocking motion. The lower sides of the blocks R B have the recesses R R in which are placed the balls R and the upper surface of the upper cutting-plate has a groove S, in which the balls R roll and into which the lower side of the pressure-plate per surface of the lower cutting-plate. By carrying the balls R in the blocks RR, which act as trucks, I distribute the pressure equally over the surface of the upper cutting-plate, notwithstanding any inequality in the upper surface of the upper cutting-plate.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a clipping machine, the combination of a supporting stand, comprising a vertical post provided with prongs N, N, shaft A journaled in said prongs, disks N N supported by said prongs, disk 0 inclosed between the disks N N and pivoted upon the shaft A, an eye or sleeve 1? carried by said disk 0 and a vibrating rod, or sweep 13 adjustably held in said eye, or sleeve, substan tially as described.

2. The combination of the block H provided with a slot F plate F sliding in said slot, rotating spindle F, crank pin 13 carried by said spindle, rod H carried by said block H and sliding in the head G, a stationary cutting plate and a movable cutting plate operatively connected with said block H, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a head Gr and a stationary cutting plate attached to said head, of a sliding rod H sliding in said head, a block H attached to said rod, a rotating spindle F operatively connected with said block,

a movable cutting plate, an arm H proj ecting from said block and entering a mortise in said movable cutting plate, whereby the sliding motion of said block is imparted to said movable cutting plate, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the stationary and movable cutting plates, and a pressure plate resting on said movable cutting plate, of a screw threaded bolt extending through said cutting and pressure plates, a sleeve inclosing said bolt and resting on said pressure plate, a nut carried by the screw threaded end of the bolt and an elastic washer interposed between said nut and said sleeve, substantially as described.

5. The combination of stationary andmovable cutting plates and a pressure plate provided with a tapering recess, of a screw threaded bolt passing through said cutting and pressure plates, a sleeve provided with a tapering end fitting the tapering recess in said pressure plate, and elastic washer attached to the upper end of said sleeve, where by it is held from rotation independently of said sleeve, and a nut carried by said screw threaded bolt and bearing on said elastic washer, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the stationary and movable cutting plates and a pressure plate, of a screw threaded bolt, a sleeve inclosing said bolt and resting on said pressure plate, an elastic washer bearing against the end of said sleeve, a nut held on said bolt and bearing on said elastic washer, said nut having a flange K inclosing said washer, said flange being provided with an inturned edge to engage said elastic Washer, substantially as described.

7. The combination With the pressure plate of a clipping machine of the pivoted blocks carrying friction balls, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the cutting plates, the pressure plate, provided With chambers,

10 the pivoted blocks held in said chambers,

friction balls held in said pivoted blocks and means substantially as described, whereby pressure is applied to said pressure plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

Dated the 8th day of April, 1890.

GEORGE H. COATES. lVitnesses:

RUFUS B. FOWLER, JOHN E. WAKEFIELD. 

